Ponders End / The Electric Quarter

Client:
Enfield Council

Borough: 
The London Borough of Enfield

Units and density: 
5.21 hectares, 408 residential homes, 2700m2 employment, 775m2 retail, 1070m2 community/library

Density:
425hrh, GIA 52,000m2          

Tenure: 
30%/70% social rent, market sale

Status: 
Outline Planning Permission: Granted 31 Jan 2013

Awards: 
New London Award 2013 - Shortlist 

The Council identified the site as having significant potential for regeneration, and so included it within the North East Area Action Plan, with the council aiming to build over 1000 new homes in Ponders End by 2026. 

The 5.2 ha site is situated within central Ponders End in Enfield and is predominately landlocked with only two access routes. Facing these constraints, Karakusevic Carson, leading a design team with Maccreanor Lavington Architects and East were appointed following a competitive tender process in Summer 2012 off the GLA/Design for London panel, to undertake a full Outline Planning Application and Hybrid Application with listed consent for the adjoining Broadbent Building.

A third of the site, facing High street, lies within Council ownership whereas the remaining part is owned by a private developer and was at the time of the project subject to a concurrent separate Planning Application by the landowner.

Apart from an existing row of buildings on High Street and a small library building leading off College Court, most existing buildings are part of the former Middlesex University which comprises approx. 35,500 sqm of vacant floor space. Amongst these, the 1930s Broadbent Building and Gymnasium are Grade II Listed and the Caretaker’s Cottage has been highlighted as being of historical significance in relation to the listed buildings by the 20th Century Society.

The Masterplan proposed a creative re-use of certain buildings for parking, community and workshop use, combined sensitively with mixed tenure housing. The scheme was supported strongly by the local community, the GLA and Design for London as well as local Design and Planning Officers.

The project proposed a new high street frontage and a series of new streets connecting back into the site. Each street was designed to be pedestrian friendly utilising high quality materials and bike.

The houses and apartment buildings designed to be appropriate to the area and elevated by elegant and robust design and a range of beautiful brick types. The first phase of the masterplan will progress into detailed design in late 2014.

Design Team

Architects: Karakusevic Carson Architects with Maccreanor Lavington Architects

Landscape and Public Realm: East

Planning: Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design